The Weekly Grill

S6 Ep15: Live export industry veteran, Dick Slaney

In this episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan interviews veteran cattleman Dick Slaney about his extraordinary career from North Queensland to Venezuela, the US and across Asia. Dick recounts hands-on experiences in live export, feedlots and abattoirs, his role in introducing stunning practices in Indonesia, and reflections on the resilience and changing dynamics of the Australia–Indonesia beef trade.

He also discusses the impacts of trade suspensions, rising competition from cheaper imports, cultural lessons learned while working in Asia, and the people and mentors who shaped his life and career.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

S6 Ep14: "If FMD gets in, you’re broke": stark warning from Dr Ross Ainsworth

In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews respected Australian Cattle Vet Dr Ross Ainsworth about the growing threat of exotic livestock diseases discussed at the recent Wagyu Edge 26 conference in Brisbane.

Dr Ainsworth explains how foot-and-mouth disease could abruptly close export markets, devastate herd values and force mass culling, and describes how lumpy skin disease spreads, its impacts and available vaccines.

The conversation covers recent outbreaks in Southeast Asia, biosecurity risks from travellers and feral animals, preparedness options including vaccination and surveillance, and the importance of reporting suspected cases to protect Australia’s industry... and more.

In Australia, suspected exotic animal diseases should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

 

 

 

S6 Ep13 - When Fuel Fails: Australia’s Food Security on the Line

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan speaks with Andrew Henderson of AgSecure about how fuel and fertiliser shortages expose critical weaknesses in Australia’s food system. They discuss diesel as a ‘‘master constraint,’’ the risks of just-in-time supply chains, and the need for a national food security strategy, strategic stockpiles and greater domestic and regional production capabilities.

The conversation covers policy options such as prioritising agriculture for fuel in crises, building sovereign capacity for fertilisers and crop protection inputs, and leveraging regional partnerships to strengthen resilience.

 

 

 

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

S6 Ep12: May Market Update - La Niña, diesel shortages and a record cow sell-off

In this episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Matt Dalgleish and Chris Howie to break down the latest market movements and regional conditions affecting Australian livestock.

They discuss the BOM La Niña forecast and its regional impacts, the record sell-off of cows in New South Wales, diesel and urea supply pressures, disruptions to live sheep exports and changing export demand, and how these factors are shaping lamb and beef prices and opportunities for breeders and buyers.

Key takeaways include short-term price outlooks, transport and input constraints, and practical investment ideas—such as store cattle, heifers and Merino lambs—for producers with feed and infrastructure.

 

 

S6 Ep11: Inside Australia's biggest Wagyu gathering

In this weeks episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan takes the roving microphone through Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane, talking with more than 900 breeders, exhibitors and international guests about genetics, market opportunities, biosecurity risks and the growing quality of Australian Wagyu.

Attendees share insights on breeding, phenotype data, export markets... and their cooking preferences.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep10: Wagyu Edge 26 - Australia’s rise from niche to global powerhouse

In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan visited Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane to catch up with AWA's president Laird Morgan and CEO Matt McDonagh to explore the explosive growth of Australian Wagyu, export markets, genetics (WBVs), feeding trends and industry opportunities...  plus a new $100,000 Wagyu feeding competition and more.

 

AWA President, Laird Morgan

 

AWA CEO, Matt McDonagh

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep9: How global conflict is shaping Australia's rural real estate

In this episode Kerry Lonergan speaks with Rawdon Briggs (Colliers Agribusiness) and independent valuer Will McLay about current trends in Australia’s rural property market. They discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict, sector pressures on horticulture, resilient beef and cropping markets, buyer and seller motivations, and major transactions like the potential Paraway offering.

Key takeaways include buyer segmentation by asset size, succession planning driving listings, regional hotspots and water rights importance, the role of institutional and family investors, and how interest rates, fuel, fertiliser and Queensland land tax are influencing deals and sentiment.

S6 Ep8: The rise of Smart tags as a valuable herd management tool, with Ceres' Greg Campbell

The recent Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Brisbane was peppered with references to the use of smart tags in various R&D applications, combining geo-location with algorithms used to measure animal behaviour. US animal scientist Professor Derek Bailey first started using primitive forms of geo-location tags as far back as 1998, but the technology has come a long ways since.

 

This week podcast host Kerry Lonergan and Beef Central’s Jon Condon sit down with Ceres Tags’ Greg Campbell, who also spoke during the NBRUC conference, and producer Jearn Liebenberg to discuss the advances in the technology and how it’s being applied in the industry.

The episode covers the benefits of satellite-connected smart tag tech — including geolocation, behaviour and reproductive algorithms, and tag durability – plus practical on-farm advantages like theft prevention, quicker mustering and improved breeding decisions… and more.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One – the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

S6 Ep7: Derek Bailey - using data and technology to transform cattle management

In this week's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Professor Derek Bailey, one of the keynote speakers at the 2026 Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC). 

Professor Bailey discusses the similarities between US and Australian rangelands (pastures), the role of public-land grazing, and how tracking technology, accelerometers and AI are transforming cattle monitorin.

The visiting academic also speaks about engaging cattle producers through on-property research, the importance of record-keeping and monitoring, and broader challenges like public perception of grazing and market drivers behind heavier carcass weights in the US beef industry.

 

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

S6 Ep6: Cattle industry leader David Foote: Are we spending our R&D dollars wisely?

The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan spent time at the Northern R&D conference in Brisbane this week, including this discussion with keynote speaker David Foote.

 

 

Mr Foote said one of the industry’s biggest R&D opportunities lies not in new scientific breakthroughs, but applying the knowledge that already exists.

 

“The industry doesn’t suffer from a lack of knowledge. It suffers from a lack of scale in applying it,” he said.

Mr Foote said northern research over many years had identified clear management principles that consistently improve performance in commercial beef enterprises.

One key message was that “profit follows pasture, and pasture condition.”

Among other topics, the pair discuss the opportunities and challenges facing northern Australian beef production - including the scale benefits of the north, and barriers to adopting proven research and management practices.

The episode also covers emerging technologies (remote sensing, Starlink, walk-over weighing), infrastructure and labour issues, market positioning for exports, and urgent biosecurity concerns such as lumpy skin disease and surveillance needs.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6